Ina Garten

Ina Rosenberg Garten, also known as the Barefoot Contessa, is an American author, TV cook, and culinary icon. Her empire is built on bestselling cookbooks, popular TV shows, and a devoted fan base. Garten's career trajectory took a sharp turn in 1978 when she left her White House budget analyst job to buy a specialty food store in the Hamptons, despite having no food business experience.